COCOA, Fla. -- Something smells so bad in Cocoa that the fumes hospitalized two deputies. Somebody's been illegally dumping chemicals on vacant land and state environmental investigators want to know who.

Eyewitness News first reported on the illegal dump site Tuesday, and Wednesday it caught the State Department of Environmental Protection's attention. State agents went to the site off Pluckebaum Road in Cocoa (see map) to find out exactly what kind of chemicals they are and who dumped them.

A tiny dirt pile is where investigators first picked up vapors. Along the road, flags marked various spots where vapors had been detected, leading investigators to believe some dripped out in places and was dumped in others.

Universal Engineering was hired by the property owners of the wooded area off Pluckebaum Road to get to the bottom of the odor that hospitalized two Brevard County sheriff deputies Tuesday.

The deputies were driving in their car when they first noticed the smell, then pulled over to investigate. They were then overcome by the powerful odor; they never made it down the road.

Haz-mat was called to the scene. Now, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Universal Engineering are involved. They're testing for petroleum products and pesticides and they've hit on organic vapors in several spots.

"We want to make sure we know fully what's going on so everyone is protected and everyone is safe, people and environment," said Jeff Prather, Dept. of Environmental Protection.

Samples of the dirt that alerted investigators are being taken to a lab. It will take several days to know exactly what's in the ground and filling the air.

It can't be soon enough for Muriel Jackson, who is one of thousands that travels Pluckebaum daily.

"It could have been me. I could have been passing by, smelled it and fell out, too," he said.

Whoever illegally dumped faces felony charges. The DEP will take evidence found Wednesday day and do forensic sampling and prosecute.

"I hope they find out what it is and whoever did it. I hope they put them where they're suppose to be," Jackson said.

Both deputies who were hospitalized were back home Wednesday evening. They both had to undergo more testing Wednesday and will be off the next four days; both are expected to be fine.